Indonesia Tsunami Appeal - fundraising tops £6m

The Disasters Emergency Committee in Scotland releases appeal video for the Indonesian Tsunami as first day fundraising reaches half a million pounds in first day.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) in Scotland has already raised nearly half a million pounds for survivors of the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia. It is part of an overall UK total of £6million raised in the first 24 hours of the appeal.

The DEC has also warmly welcomed this morning’s announcement that the Scottish Government has released more than £200,000 from its Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF) to support the DEC and other Scottish aid agencies that are already on the ground in Sulawesi helping with the emergency response.

The appeal in Scotland has also been boosted by the support of leading writer and comedian, Susan Calman, who is asking for people across the country to do what they can to help.

In a video just released Susan says: “We’re all part of a global family and when family is in trouble we rally round. Thanks so much for anything you can do to help.”

Thanks so much to @SusanCalman for supporting our lndonesia appeal. Thanks also to everyone for pushing the total in Scotland to half a million pounds already, 6 million across the UK! Here's her video, please share far and wide with #tsunami and donate https://t.co/BLfGFgZwEI pic.twitter.com/rXhSbYhoLc

— DEC in Scotland (@DECScotland) October 5, 2018

More than 1,500 are confirmed dead after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake and a tsunami with waves as high as 18 feet hit Central Sulawesi Province a week ago.

Homes and entire communities have been destroyed, 1.5 million people have been affected and 200,000 are in desperate need of help. Authorities fear that casualties and the number of those displaced by the disaster will continue to rise in the coming days.

DEC member charities and their partners are working closely with the Indonesian authorities and are providing food, clean water, first aid and shelter, as well as helping survivors to cope with the trauma of the last seven days.

DEC Scotland Chair, Sally Foster Fulton said: “We are extremely grateful for donations from people across Scotland who, once again, are digging deep to show that we really are part of a global family. We are extremely grateful to the Scottish Government for their financial support and continued commitment to the humanitarian sector here.”

“The situation in Indonesia remains desperate and hundreds of thousands of people urgently need food, clean water, shelter as well as support in dealing with the trauma they have experienced. As the full impact of the disaster unfolds, DEC member charities and their local partners will help devastated communities to rebuild their lives.

“We would urge people to continue donating. Please donate now.”

HOW TO DONATE:

To make a donation to the DEC Indonesia Tsunami Appeal visit the DEC website by clicking here.
To donate by phone, call the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900.
To donate £5 by text, text SUPPORT to 70000.Texts cost £5 and the whole £5 goes to the DEC INDONESIA TSUNAMI APPEAL. You must be 16 or over and please ask the bill payer’s permission. For full terms and conditions and more information go to the DEC website.
You can also donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office, or send a cheque.

*Stay up to date with developments in Indonesia, the emergency response and the fundraising efforts with the DEC on Twitter @DECScotland or on Facebook.